The Season 28 Knockouts round on The Voice kicked off Monday night (Oct. 28) with a slew of powerhouse performances as contestants fought for their place in the competition. The first performance of the night was one to remember, and even brought Reba McEntire to tears as she reflected on a recent great loss in her life.

For her first Knockout pairing, the country icon matched up two of her Team Reba standouts, Leyton Robinson and Aubrey Nicole, both of whom are country singers with stunning voices. With guidance from McEntire and their Mega Mentor, Joe Walsh, the two artists selected songs that hit close to home.

Robinson chose Maren Morris’ “I Could Use a Love Song,” while Nicole performed Martina McBride’s “I’m Gonna Love You Through It,” a song she dedicated to her father, a cancer survivor.

During rehearsals, Nicole opened up about her dad’s battle and explained how the song’s message of strength and love mirrored her family’s journey. Her performance on stage captured every bit of the emotion within the lyrics and struck a deep chord with McEntire, who lost her former stepson, Brandon Blackstock, to cancer in August.

Her silky vocals cut through the tear-jerking lyrics of the 2011 release, capturing both the strength and tenderness of a woman’s journey through cancer, and the resilience that comes from having the right person by your side.

“When you’re weak, I’ll be strong/ When you let go, I’ll hold on/ When you need to cry, I swear that/ I’ll be there to dry your eyes/ When you feel lost and scared to death/ Like you can’t take one more step/ Just take my hand, together we can do it/ I’m gonna love you through it,” she sings with the utmost emotional weight.

The performance clearly caught the hearts of every coach and the audience that could be heard cheering in awe. After Nicole hit her final notes, Reba McEntire was visibly touched by the delivery and took a moment to collect herself before sharing her thoughts.

“I do know this song,” McEntire said confidently. “Martina’s a good friend of mine.”

She went on to reflect on the loss of Blackstock, who was the son of McEntire’s former husband Narvel Blackstock and also the ex-husband of singer Kelly Clarkson, with whom he shared two young children with – River Rose and Remy Alexander. Blackstock sadly lost his battle with cancer just a few months ago, marking a heartbreaking loss for his family.

Fighting back tears, McEntire told Nicole how much the song meant to her, especially after watching her stepson endure such a difficult journey at just 48 years old.

“I lost my oldest son because he did not win with cancer. That was a real reminder that life goes on,” she shared. “We sing songs about it so we can remember the ones around us that we love so much and that we lean on at times like this.”

Reba McEntire’s vulnerability made the moment one of the most moving of the season so far. She ultimately chose Nicole as the winner of the Knockout round. This means she is the first of 16 contestants to make it through to the Playoffs, which serves as the final round before the Live Shows.

The episode also introduced a new twist: the Mic Drop. While coaches don’t have Saves or Steals during this round, each is allowed to select one team member for the Mic Drop designation. Fans will then get to vote to decide which artist earns the chance to appear in the Rose Parade on New Year’s Day.

The Voice airs Mondays at 8/7c on NBC.